A foreground of Golden Alexander with a native Fringe Tree in the background.
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) is a native carrot family plant that is partially shade tolerant as well as full sun tolerant. The long taproot allows for good drought tolerance within regions of at least 32” inches of rainfall annually. It's native to most of the northeast, southeast, and midwestern United States. The spring flowers attract small native bees and pollen foraging beetles primarily. After a long winter, Golden Alexander and it’s cousin Heart-Leaf Alexander (Zizia aptera) provide a subtle warm welcome to spring as they’re often the first herbaceous plants to bloom within grasslands, meadows, and savanna environments. They typically bloom a few weeks before Penstemon species, Baptisia species, Sand Coreopsis, and Spiderwort species.They could be considered a kind of cool-season wildflower as their foliage emerges early in the spring soon followed by the bloom period which lasts 2 to 3 weeks. The foliage of both species remains low to the ground throughout the summer into the fall before going into dormancy. Both Golden Alexanders have moderate grazing resistance to Deer and Rabbits. Heart-Leaf Alexander has higher shade tolerance than Golden Alexander, as it can be found in the dappled sunlight of broken canopy woodlands. Though Golden Alexander’s shade tolerance is not easily out done as it can persist in partially shaded Savanna environments. Golden Alexander also has a higher wet soil tolerance than Heart-Leaf Alexander while Heart-Leaf has a higher dry soil tolerance than Golden Alexander and both are very adaptable to gardens. Caterpillars of the butterflies Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius pictured on purple coneflower) and Ozark Swallowtail (Papilio joanae ) feed on the leaves and flowers while caterpillars of Papaipema rigida (Rigid Sunflower Borer Moth) bore through the stems.
These early blooming native wildflowers of the carrot family start out as small plants, but their ambition withholds a bright future in gardens, broken forests, savannas, and meadows. In native meadow's we've created ourselves, we've observed Golden Alexander increasing year by year, but not in an invasive manner. They reseed effectively and hold their ground well against most prairie/meadow plants.
Companion Plants: Penstemon species (Background), Gaillardia species, Butterflyweed (Foreground), Nodding Wild Onion (Foreground), Purple Coneflower (Background), Mountain Mint species, Lobelia species, Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), Prairie Dock, Mistflower, Aromatic Aster, Obedient Plant
Germination Tips for Plugs: Soak the seed in cold tapwater for 24 hours, then cool-moist stratify for 40 to 55 days. Sow 1/8th inch below the soil level after stratification.
Golden Alexander with reduced size due to meadow competition.
Black Swallowtails rear their eggs on Golden and Heart-leaf Alexanders. They'll also host on non-natives in the carrot family.
Beginning phases/instar of Black Swallowtail caterpillars.
Golden Alexander Patch in evening setting sun light.
Golden alexander in sunlight.
Small native bees like this species are the most common pollinators of Golden Alexanders.
A small caterpillar, using pieces of vegetation attached to its body as camouflage
Milkweed Beetle feeding on Golden Alexander
Golden Alexander Zizia aurea reported native range.
Heart-leaf Alexander Zizia aptera reported native range.
Key for the Maps Above
Light Green = Reported to an herbarium for the county as native and wild occuring.
Teal = Reported to an herbarium for the county as present and introduced by man.
Yellow = Reported to an herbarium for the county as present but rare.
Green = Reported to an herbarium as present in the state.
Orange = Once reported to an herbarium as native but now considered extinct in that county.
When considering planting a native plant, always google search the scientific name aka latin name with the word “bonap” to look up its native range as reported by country records submitted to herbariums. If the plant is native within 100 miles of your location it will be more ecologically applicable than plants native further away. The further away a plant is native, often, the less ecologically applicable it becomes.